Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it鈥檚 relevant in the automotive universe, there鈥檚 a chance we may know something about it. The author鈥檚 email address and name will be omitted - leaving your initials or nickname, your preference. Will the VW T-Roc R come to the USA? Nissan Sentra Nismo vs Volkswagen Jetta GLI? Does Tesla have a 鈥淒og Mode? The first question comes from Twitter (@Nathanadlen) wondering about the VW T-Roc R concept he saw. SUVs are huge now. For those of you who live in the United States who didn鈥檛 know, Volkswagen builds a small crossover that competes with the Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and so on. It鈥檚 called the T-Roc and, according to reviews and sales numbers, it鈥檚 quite good - if you live just about anywhere else. The 2019 Geneva Motor Show will debut a 鈥淩鈥?version of the T-Roc that looks like it will be a glimpse at what the VW T-Roc R will be like. The Golf R isn鈥檛 a hot seller here and鈥? T-Roc in the USA.
Yep, it would be nice to just get the regular Volkswagen T-Roc in the United States. Sadly, as the German automaker is fond of making it known, 鈥淵ou Americans can鈥檛 have nice things! The next question comes from a sport sedan fan who鈥檚 looking at a (near) future competitor to the Nissan Sentra Nismo. Q: What鈥檚 up Natedogg! I hope you remember me. It鈥檚 Sammy again and I was wondering what your take was on the Nissan Sentra Nismo vs the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Stupid haters totally beat up on the Nissan Sentra Nismo! I like it a lot and was seriously thinking about getting one with a manual transmission. I remember you saying it was a lot of fun to drive and thats what I want. But then I heard about the new Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Is it going to be better all around than the Nissan Sentra Nismo! Please let me know which one you would get. Did you ever find that NOFX album you were looking for? Sure I remember you! I was looking for a specific photo/poster from NOFX鈥?never found it.
As for the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI vs the Nissan Sentra Nismo: the Nismo is great for cornering, but it鈥檚 not that powerful. The new Jetta GLI - you can read about here - is a beast by comparison. It has a beefed up suspension, brakes and a turbocharged 228 horsepower 2.0-liter that makes 258 lb-ft of torque. It鈥檚 hooked up to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG. Basically, it鈥檚 a sedan version of the Volkswagen GTI. I suspect it will be faster than the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra Sport and, yes - the Nissan Sentra Nismo. We鈥檒l know more about it soon. I think the Hyundai is a bargain and the overall performance is (probably) second to the GLI. It keeps the car cool, plays tunes and has a visual warning for those who might smash your glass that you鈥檒l be back soon. Once you get back to your Tesla, you鈥檒l find the glass is still broken with lots of pissed off onlookers and a cop equipped with a taser-gun glaring at you. Because: YOU NEVER LEAVE ANIMALS IN A CAR! TAKE THEM HOME OR TAKE THEM WITH, BUT NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE IN A CAR! You might want to look at your local laws first too. Here鈥檚 a great comparison of the newest midsize pickup truck contender videos! Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it鈥檚 relevant in the automotive universe, there鈥檚 a chance we may know something about it. The author鈥檚 email address and name will be omitted - leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can.
Volkswagen offers a free 6-month trial of its Car-Net Security and Service package, which includes automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and a vehicle locator if you鈥檝e forgotten where you parked the Jetta, among others. It also supplies Family Guardian functions that give parents an alert when their teen driver speeds, breaks curfew, or exceeds specific geographic boundaries. Shelly鈥檚 parents would have freaked. You can carry your kids in the Jetta and enjoy peace of mind, thanks to the car鈥檚 comprehensive list of active safety features. At least they might have relaxed a little thanks to the Jetta鈥檚 full array of standard and available active safety systems. Better yet, the most important stuff is even offered for the base trim level in an option package. While driving the car, these safety systems impressed me with both their accuracy and smoothness. In most situations, you鈥檙e barely aware that they鈥檙e there, working to keep you and your loved ones safe. No doubt, that extends to the new Jetta鈥檚 underlying vehicle architecture.
